802/Cloak and Dagger

Cloak and Dagger
Date of Scene:	05 January 2016
Location:	Plot Room #1
Synopsis:	Ami asks Kyouko for help with Jadeite, and Usagi brings Ami Mamoru's cloak. Then, they cry and talk about trust issues. Then the two girls fall asleep together. Mama Mizuno might get the wrong idea, but at least they're *sleeping*
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Kyouko Sakura, Usagi Tsukino

---

Ami Mizuno has posed:
The address Sailor Mercury provided for Kyouko was for a swank, 7th-story apartment in Uminari City, not far from the harbour. Inside, Ami has already put out cookies, apples, chocolates, and a few soft drinks for enjoyment, as she waits for her guest to arrive.

When Usagi texted asking to come show her something, Ami just laughed a little and invited her to the apartment, as well. But Usagi, of course, already knew the way. Within, the house is cozy and warm, despite the rainy weather outside.

When the doorbell rings, Ami goes to answer with a smile on her face. Kyouko was going to learn her secret identity someday. Might as well be today, and for this reason.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    If this was Mamoru's apartment, Kyouko would likely have shown up on the balcony in henshin, because that's just the stylish way to enter. But not knowing the circumstances, she takes the safer route and rides the elevator up to the 7th story. She's wearing her normal outfit, but has black tights on underneath her jean shorts, and a red and white striped scarf wound around her neck and trailing down her back.

    She walks up to the door and after a moment staring at the number to make sure its the right one, she knocks. Then she stuffs her hands back in the pockets of her hoodie. She isn't sure why Sailor Mercury wanted to see her again- she's still a little miffed that the girl thinks her incapable. This is not at all what Mercury said, but it's what Kyouko /heard/ when the girl told her 'not to do anything on her own'. Still, she's here, and she doesn't look any grumpier than usual.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi needs to get her act together. Her 'encounter' with Endymion, such as it was, had been proof of this.

There were times she almost recognized him. But at the end, whoever had been behind those eyes had been a complete stranger, his body little more than a puppet.

She doesn't like it, and her determination to bring him back only doubled.

The cape is dry now. Beneath the scent of rain (surprisingly not that of wet dog, how does he do it), she can almost smell him, but it's off. Something dark. Not death or decay, but something else that sends her hackles up and pushes her into a state of unrest.

Not that she's been resting, anyway.

She exits the elevator, having taken it not long after Kyouko, apparently. She stands beside her. "Hey."

She's distracted, that much is obvious, and when she sniffs the cloak again, she makes a face.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami opens the door for both of them, then smiles and beckons. "Come in," she says pleasantly. "Hello, Sakura-san, Usagi-chan," she greets. Usagi gets a warm hug, and Kyouko a warm smile. "There's snacks and drinks on the bar, if you're interested," she notes.

Once they're in and the door is closed, Ami explains, "Before you get too confused, Sakura-san, I know we've only met briefly, at the arcade, but I don't mind you knowing that I'm Sailor Mercury. Please don't spread it around; I'd rather most people don't know. However, I have good reason for sharing with you. I need a favor, and it's something I would not trust many people with, but one I hope you will be especially interested in."

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko glances to the side when Usagi walks up and stands beside her. A brief shadow passes over her face at the distracted 'hey' she gets from the other girl. She genuinely likes Usagi, and it hurts her a bit to see that she is still being effected so much by Mamoru's circumstances- not that she blames Usagi at all, but it doesn't mean she likes it any better. She's also not aware of her recent encounters with Endymion, of course.

    "Hey. What's up?" She greets the girl beside her, giving her best warm smile, which from Kyouko can't help but be slightly lopsided and slightly fangy, but one can't help the way one is made. Then the door opens and she turns to see Ami greeting her.

    She blinks a bit, but the disclosure of identity clears up any confusion. She shrugs. "I got no reason to tell anybody, so you're safe." She'd tell Sayaka if it ever came up, but that's about it. She wanders over to inspect the snack offerings, because even if this meeting turns out to be fruitless, at least it won't be apple-less. She takes one and sinks her fangs in like a vampire, chomp.

    While she chews, she listens. "I'm listenin'." She indicates that Ami should continue.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Kyouko gets a warm smile in return. Before she can say anything, Ami opens the door and they're suddenly in a whirlwind of greetings. She hugs Ami just as warm as it's given, though maybe a bit tighter.

While Ami and Kyouko speak, she goes to the bar to nibble a cookie and nurse a soda.

She perches on one of the barstools, half to listen, half to think inside her own head.

"She knows who I am," she reminds Ami before mindlessly crunching through the cookie.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami grabs a coke for herself and pops the top, then nods to Kyouko. "Recently," she explains,"two generals of the Dark Kingdom discussed their slow realization that they are being mind controlled by Queen Beryl."

Ami looks to Kyouko a moment, thoughtfully, then, delicately, says, "Which matches what we know happened to you. We are hoping to eventually free all of them, but for now that's not feasible. However ..." here she trails off, then smiles at Usagi. "Sailor Moon did recently free one of them. His name is--was--Jadeite. And we believe he is now safely free of Beryl's influence." Here, Ami pauses to watch Kyouko curiously for her reaction.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko quirks a brow at this information from Ami. "No shit." She comments, not in a disbelieving way but in a 'really?' sort of way. "That doesn't surprise me.. the bit about them being mind-controlled and stuff. And.. well. I'd kinda like it if we could free them too. Especially nii-ch- Kunzite." She catches herself at the last minute and then shrugs her shoulders, looking off to one side.

    "I know Jadeite. I remember everything that happened while I was Apatite, you know, just sort of.. as if it were a dream. A really vivid one. You got him, huh?" She glances to Usagi, and smiles a bit. "I'll be interested to see if he's less of a little prat now." She pauses, then adds, "Accourse, I'm not, so maybe I don't have room to talk."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi relaxes a bit at Kyouko's slip. She likes that her friend has a vested interest in this.

She relaxes even more when she's asked about Jadeite, enough to actually lay the cloak down on another stool.

"Well, I think he's a complete sweetheart now. But then again, I've been known to think that of people others normally don't."

A wink for Kyouko here. Yes, Usagi believes she's a sweetheart.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami smiles at Usagi's input, clearly not disagreeing with the blonde's insight. But it's Kyouko who still holds most of her attention. "Kunzite will require ... a little more effort. I'm not sure he would survive Moon Healing Escalation, right now. But I am working on it," she notes for Kyouko. "Every General we can take from her is more power on our side. And," she notes, "just as importantly, it's one more friend freed from evil."

She sighs a little, reaches up to squeeze the bridge of her nose, then says, "Anyways, all of this is the backstory. Next week, I'm taking the Senshi to Paris as a belated Christmas present, and so that I can look into an intern opportunity there. I am undecided as to whether to take Jadeite, right now, and rooming would be ... weird. But at the same time, I am still concerned that he might be found and discovered by them, and dragged back. So ..." she trails off quietly. "Well, I was wondering if you might like to spend the week with him. Not like all the time, but he could use a guardian and a friend who cares about him."

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "Must be nice." Kyouko mutters, mostly to herself, about whirlwind trips to other countries. But then she blinks a little bit as the nature of Ami's favor becomes clear. She looks genuinely shocked. "You want /me/ to babysit /Jadeite/?"

    After a moment she swallows the bite of apple in her mouth. "Look, kid, I appreciate the vote of confidence but I got my own shit to take care of." This is true, she's actually been planning a reckless and probably futile assault on the Dark Kingdom with Sayaka, but she's not about to come out and tell that to Ami. Not to mention all the normal Puella stuff like hunting Witches. And working at her job. "Not to mention I always thought Jadeite was kind of a little-" She pauses, deciding perhaps it's best not to complete that thought.

    After a moment, she says, "I mean, you can give him my cell number and tell him to call me if he gets in trouble. And I'll check in on him a couple times if you want. But I can't just sit with him for a while week, and he sure as hell can't move into my apartment." That would just be weird!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
She perks up a bit at the idea of someone looking after Jadeite while they were gone.

And then...deflates. If possible, her hair joins in her sulk.

She doesn't want to force her, of course, but still! "You were kind of a little then, too."

Her sulk deepens. "And Mamo-chan's very much of a..." Hmmm. Jerk wouldn't do. "Dick right now." Oh, how her cheeks are burning! Such language!!

"And I don't think it's babysitting. More...make sure he's not stolen away."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami looks to Usagi a little incredulously at her choice of descriptors, then shakes her head an dlooks back to Kyouko. "I didn't mean for you to babysit him," she notes gently. "But I thought you might appreciate the opportunity to get to know the real Jadeite, instead of the man created by her mind control."

Ami shrugs a little, then says, "Think about it. I will give him your number if you'd like me to. If your time is too unreliable to spend a little time with him, that's alright. I have other options, I just thought of you, first."

Ami lets out a soft sigh. "Anyhow, that's all I had in mind to discuss with you." Here, she turns, then to Usagi and asks, "So what about you, Usagi-chan? You said you had something to show me?"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko blinks a little bit at Usagi. Oh, she's heard (and said) far worse in her time, but hearing it come out of Usag is practically the same as your cute little kitten standing up and telling you to 'bite me'. After a moment though, the implication of that statement gets past the phrasing. "You've seen him?" She asks, brows drawing together again. Last she had known, they were pretty sure he was alive but it hadn't actually been proven.

    She does flush a little bit at the rebuke though. "I'm kind of a little now." She says, "And I'm sorry for that."

    Kyouko seems to be caught in a tight spot. On the one hand, it's a reasonable request and she understands the logic of wanting to keep Jadeite from being taken back to Beryl, even if only from a tactical viewpoint.

    On the other hand, its clear from her expression and her posture that she doesn't want this kind of responsibility- this is a girl who until a few months ago was refusing to care about anyone because she thought that only led to misery. To be tasked with protecting somebody, and knowing people she at least semewhat cared about would be disappointed in her if she fails? This is not a thought she relishes.

    Plus she really hadn't liked Jadeite.

    "You can give him my number." She finally reaffirms.. "And if he gets in trouble, he can call me and I'll help. Punching Dark Kingdom guys in the face is pretty high on my to-do list right now anyway. But I can't promise more than that."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Now Usagi feels bad. She hadn't meant to be demanding, just giving more information. "If you are, it's only an eensy weensy little."

Here, Usagi sulks even more as she nods, though for a different reason, as she holds up the cloak. "Ran into him during that storm. It went...weird. Thought you'd like to take a look at this."

She slides off the stool to hand it to Ami.

"He wasn't quite him at first, then he really wasn't him after we teleported. His eyes got very scary."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami blinks in surprise when she realises that this cloak came not from Mamoru's closet, but from his back. She accepts it gingerly, studies it carefully, then lays it out on the table. "Teleported?" she asks, curiously. "Who teleported you? Where did you teleport?" These are not demanding questions, just curiosities.

Kyouko, it seems, is on her own for figuring out her dilemmas, right now; Ami is now focused entirely on the cloak. She reaches up and pinches her left ear, where a trio of blue stud gems glimmer brilliantly. Sailor Mercury's visor flashes into view over her eyes, and Ami begins intently studying the cloak, silent during her analysis.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko considers this information from Usagi. If anything, it only hardens her determination to punch the hell out of some Dark Kingdom guys.

    She thinks about what Usagi says, about how Mamoru 'wasn't really him'. She's not sure how this compares to her own experience- Apatite very much /was/ her, the worst version of her. But she had been that version of her, herself, too. Really all that Beryl had done was to bring out the Kyouko that had been called The Terror of Kazamino. But she hadn't created her- Kyouko had done that. Beryl had only used her.

    What does this say about Mamoru? Kyouko doesn't know. She has no idea if the process used to brainwash Mamoru had been the same, or entirely different. She also hadn't seen him for herself. Not that she doesn't trust Usagi, just that she never really trusts anything if she hasn't seen it for herself.

    But now Ami is examining the cloak, and Usagi is watching her. Kyouko sighs to herself a little bit. Things are never simple. She finishes her apple and tosses the core in the trash, then turns to head to the door, tucking her hands back into her pockets. "Well, like I said.. if I'm needed.. call me."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi sighs as she thinks how to describe the encounter. "I got caught in the park, my feet refused to head toward Mamo-chan's or my place, and there he was, just standing. Thunder, you know, so I clung to him. It was stupid, but he still felt safer than the storm. He was very cranky, but he wasn't mean. Well, he kind of was, but in the jerk way, not the...other way."

She chews on another cookie as she thinks. "He said he didn't know me, when I clung to him again, he got annoyed and said it was just thunder and I called him a jerk for that, but he wrapped me in the cloak and he just teleported us to the coffee shop. That was scary. Very...icky feeling. And that's when he got scary. I could feel...Mamo-chan very much wasn't there. And he was asking about Sailor Moon and his eyes were all glowy and he tried to..." Her cheeks turn pink and she makes a face, very much not one she would make had he actually been Mamoru. Or even who he had been before. "KissmebutMako-chan punched him before he could."

She idly scratches her nail against the bar as she sips her soda. "He wasn't Mamo-chan at first, but he really wasn't him at the end."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami studies the cloak in silence while Usagi explains what happened. She doesn't even look up at Kyouko as the girl leaves, although she does say, "Take another apple for the road." At least she's trying to be friendly, but the way she says it almost sounds cold and condescending. More likely, she's just entirely distracted by listening and studying what she's seeing.

It takes several moments for Ami to finish her analysis, and when she does she leans back and touches her earing again, banishing the goggles back from whenc ethey came. "It's his," she confirms for Usagi quietly. "This is definitely Mamoru's cloak. The cloak itself bears the signature of his magic, distinctly and clearly. Only it's at a much greater amplitude than before. He's more powerful than he was," she notes to Usagi, "which means you need to be extra careful around him. There is a skin of darkness clinging to the cloak; energy like Kunzite's, or Jadeite's before you purified him. Usagi-chan, may I keep this?" she asks, touching the cloak gently. "There are a lot more tests I'd like to run on it, and it's one of the few samples of Dark Energy we've been able to collect."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Before Kyouko could leave, Usagi shimmies over for a quick, tight hug. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Before Kyouko could say anything in return, Usagi sticks in apple in the other girl's mouth. May even stuff a few in whatever pockets she can find.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko is about to head out the door- she has it open, and is passing through, when something occurs to her. She pauses in the threshold, and looks back in at the two bent over the cloak.

    "Look, I know all this Mamoru stuff is important to you guys. It's important to me too. But I feel like I should let you know- there may be another issue before too long."

    "Somebody who I think knows what she's talkin' about warned me yesterday that Walpurgisnacht is going to hit Tokyo at the end of the month. Walpurgisnacht is like.. the mother of all Witches. Witches are normally a Puella thing I know but this one is like.. it levels cities. Like, for real."

    "Anyway, we're gonna do our best to make sure that don't happen.. like I said, Witches are Puella business. But I thought it was fair to warn you guys. If you don't want to deal with it, I'd be elsewhere, come the last few days of January."

    Then Usagi shimmies over to hug her. Kyouko looks surprised at first, but then she gives the girl a return squeeze. She blinks at the apple in her mouth, but takes a bite before removing it to speak. "You too. It's dangerous out there." And then she's turning to walk out the door and vanish down the hallway.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Her eyes soften as she reaches out to the cloak, rubbing her fingertips over the thick material.

Usagi blinks and looks up at Ami. More careful?

Glowing red eyes flash in her memory and she jerks her hand away. "I will be."

At this moment, she means it completely. But she knows if she meets the one she first saw, that promise may be hard to keep.

She clears her throat. "Yeah. If you find a way to take that gunk off, can I have it back when you're done?"

It's silly to ask.

"I just...it lets me know he's still there, somewhere."

Because if he wasn't, the cloak wouldn't have his energy, would it?

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"If I find a way, and when I am through investigating," Ami promises Usagi quietly. Then she whisks the cloak away, into some hidden place that cannot be seen. When did Ami learn the secret of hammerspace? But apparently she did, at some point.

The bluenette leans over and hugs Usagi tightly, then glances at the door. "I don't know if we'll be back for this witch she was talking about--Walpurgisnacht--or not. But if we are, we should try to help."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi nods and relaxes when the cloak is gone and away. "Thank you."

One last shiver to expel the heebies she still has from the encounter later, and she's on her second soda.

"I don't know much about it. But it sounds like something we should get involved with." She takes a moment to sip her soda. "She said it's Puella business, but when's that stopped them from helping us for Senshi business?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami considers the question with far more seriousness than Usagi may have expected. She keeps her arms wrapped around the blonde in a hug, but it's more out of comfort than any active need to cling to the blonde.

It takes a few moments, but eventually she mumbles, "I've been dwelling on that very issue a lot, lately. Some part of me wants to tell Virtue my theories about Paris, but they're just theories. Uncomfirmed, although I have a lot of evidence pointing in that direciton," she murmurs. "Is it Senshi business, just because it's the Dark Kingdom? Or is it Virtue business because we're all working together? On the other hand, it would be irresponsible for more than a few of Tokyo's defenders to leave for Paris right now. I'm honestly nervous that as many as five of us are going."

She sighs, just faintly, then notes, "Especially with this Walpurgis thing showing up. Such a massive event ... maybe Paris should be postponed. But I cannot justify not putting my utmost energy into finding out what happened to Mamoru." Finally, Ami leans back to study Usagi's features, eyes woefully heavy with her own troubles. Her arms linger around Usagi's neck, fingers gently laced together as she studies her best friend. "I don't know what to do, Usagi-chan. I don't know where the line is, anymore, or what the best plan is. I feel like I'm drowning in too much and not enough, and Minako is just making everything ten times worse. I don't know what I've done to upset her, but she clearly thinks I am irresponsibly attempting to sabotage our efforts. It hurts."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi shrugs into the hug. "Now I think it's Virtue business because of Mamo-chan. He has a lot of friends, and they want to see him back." She sighs. "We need to go, I know that. Even with the Walpurthingy. If we don't who's to say things won't just be that much worse?"

When Ami pulls back, Usagi cups the other girl's cheek in her hand. "You need a rest every now and then. And I'm sorry I--" She works the lump back down her throat. "I haven't been helping things lately. And I don't have a clue about Minako. I don't think she trusts me, either. Is it because of me, or because of what she's done before?"

She smiles, eyes bright and watering. "I'll do better, I promise. I'll help you anyway I can." And this next is the hardest for her to day. "And if I do...maybe you'll trust me again, at least?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami leans her face into Usagi's hand, meeting her friend's eyes intently. She starts to explain her feelings about Minako's treatment of Usagi, but gets waylaid by Usagi expressing her concerns over Ami's own trust.

Ami's eyes widen, and tears begin to well. "Oh, Usagi-chan, don't say that," she breathes, then pulls her friend into another tight hug. "I do trust you. You're my dearest and best friend, and I rely so very much on your judgement, your kindness, and your strength. I'm just scared. I'm scared for you. For me. For ... everyone. And I feel like everything is on me to figure out what to do. There's this massive weight pressing down on me that is the entire world, and if I make a mistake, you die. We all die. And I can't ... I don't know how to deal with that. Please please don't mistake my fear for mistrust. I cannot think of anyone I trust more than you, Usagi-chan."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Her eyes sting, and even though she's told herself 'no more crying,' at least this time they are relieved, happy tears. Her hug is just as tight, and a weight is lifted from her. "Good."

She laughs a bit before she corrects herself. "I mean, good that you trust me, not good on everything else."

A nice, long, warm hug.

"And I'm here for that, okay? You shouldn't have this all on you. Even if I have to Luna Pen myself as a...a...scientist assistant or whatever, I want to help. I can share the weight."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami wipes her eyes on Usagi's shoulder, but pauses at the blonde's suggestion. Even emotionally compromised, Ami cannot help but dwell on possibilities.

"Would that actually work?" she asks Usagi, uncertainly.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi shrugs as she pets Ami's hair. "I got some nurse know-how that time Mamo-chan was in the hospital and I did it. I mean, I wouldn't put me in a room to build sciencey stuff by myself, but I think I'd at least know what you want me to hand to you, or what setting that spinny machine should be set to."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami laughs a little, teary laugh at Usagi's explanation, then hugs her friend tightly. "Maybe I'll have you do that," she says quietly. "After we're back from Paris. There's a lot happening right now, Usagi-chan. I'm really glad I can count on you to help me with my part, so that I can help you with yours."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"You can always count on me. Unless it's to not be afraid of thunder."

She sighs. "I'm actually still trying to figure out what my part is."

Usagi wants to ask Ami what she's supposed to do. What should she do more of, what she should do less of. But Ami's hands are full enough as it is.

"Think that mythical library you keep mentioning would have a how-to book?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami laughs a little at Usagi's joke, then kisses her friend gently on the cheek. She pulls away and smiles. "Why is it that even when I am feeling my worst, you can still make me laugh?" She hugs Usagi one more time, then finally, finally lets the blonde go. "You are really so amazing, Usagi-chan. I'm so lucky to be a part of your life."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's face pleasantly warms as she shrugs. "I still think I'm the lucky one."

It's true, too. For the first time in, well, ages, she feels a bit like her old self. It didn't take much and yet it meant everything: Ami's belief in her.